What is there to say about the sound for this movie other than is was composed by the legendary Yoko Kanno? Kanno lends her amazing musical talents once again to the Stand Alone Complex. Honestly, I don't think there is anything that she can not do incredibly well. Her music adds a sense of epic scale that matches the grand scope of Ghost in the Shell world. Background elements have a nice layer effect thing going on. Anything that moves, buttons pushed, footsteps, basically anything that can make a noise has a sound attributed to it. Background music coincides with little clicks and clacks of Foley adding to the atmosphere of a scene.

English translation is right on with the TV series with the same voice actors returning. All of the performances were solid and consistent. Japanese voice acting is well done as always, so no surprises there. There are variations between the subtitled translation and the English language version but nothing that really that changes the story any. Due to the education level at which the dialogue is written, the subtitles sometimes have a tendency to be a bit quick on screen. I wouldn't have wanted to be a translator on this one, but, considering the mouthfuls that some of the characters spew, I am seriously impressed with the job done here.

Special features are very fan friendly. On the standard movie disk there is an option to show the movie with coinciding storyboards. Very cool to watch if anyone has ever wondered how an animation is visualized. And there is a very cute little video called Uchikomatic Days that really is about nothing, but still fun to watch. The real special features haul is in the limited edition. It includes the audio soundtrack, which is great, and an entire new disk of special features. Most of the content has to do with production, such as the collaboration with Nissan. The other videos are more promotion pieces, such as the English and Japanese trailers and a how they made a real working Tachikoma that was used as part of a press junket to generate attention about the movie. I would so spend big money to have a working 12-inch Tachikoma on my desk at work.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex-Solid State Society is one very solid title. This DVD's animation, music, and story are all top notch. While it is not as groundbreaking as the first two movies, this title really holds its own and is worth seeing. Having the option of buying the limited or standard edition is appreciated, and at each respective price point either of these versions is a steal for what is included. Anyone who is a fan of Ghost in the Shell will not be disappointed and will be eager to see what is next in store for Section 9.

Chris Feldman is a freelance 3D modeler and animator whose work has been featured in television, games and manufacturing. He is an active member in the pop art community as well as a long time staff member/promoter of anime and comic conventions. In his very finite spare time he volunteers teaching animation to kids.